Considering Oneself

Ἐπειδὴ ῥᾴδιον ἑκάστῳ ἡμῶν πολυπραγμονεῖν τὰ ἀλλότρια ἢ τὰ οἰκεῖα ἑαυτοῦ διασκέπτεσθαι, ἵνα μὴ τοῦτο πάσχωμεν, παῦσαι, φησί, τὰ τοῦ δεῖνος κακὰ περιεργαζόμενος· μὴ δίδου σχολὴν τοῖς λογισμοῖς τὸ ἀλλότριον ἐξετάζειν ἀρρώστημα, ἀλλὰ σαυτῷ πρόσεχε, τουτέστιν· ἐπὶ τὴν οἰκείαν ἔρευναν στρέφε σου τὸ ὄμμα τῆς ψυχῆς. Πολλοὶ γάρ, κατὰ τὸν λόγον τοῦ Κυρίου, τὸ μὲν κάρφος τὸ ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ κατανοοῦσι, τὴν δὲ ἐν τῷ οἰκείῳ ὀφθαλμῷ δοκὸν οὐκ ἐμβλέπουσιν. Μὴ παύσῃ τοίνυν διερευνώμενος σεαυτόν, εἴ σοι κατ' ἐντολὴν ὁ βίος πρόεισιν· ἀλλὰ μὴ τὰ ἔξω περισκόπει, εἴ πού τινος μῶμον ἐξευρεῖν δυνηθείης, κατὰ τὸν φαρισαῖον τὸν βαρὺν ἐκεῖνον καὶ ἀλαζόνα, ὃς εἱστήκει ἑαυτὸν δικαιῶν, καὶ τὸν τελώνην ἐξευτελίζων· ἀλλὰ σεαυτὸν ἀνακρίνων μὴ διαλείπῃς, μή τι κατὰ τὰς ἐνθυμήσεις ἥμαρτες, μή τι ἡ γλῶσσα παρώλισθε τῆς διανοίας προεκδραμοῦσα, μὴ ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις τῶν χειρῶν πέπρακταί τι τῶν ἀβουλήτων. Κἂν εὕρῃς ἐν τῷ βίῳ σεαυτοῦ πολλὰ τὰ ἁμαρτήματα (εὑρήσεις δὲ πάντως ἄνθρωπος ὤν), λέγε τὰ τοῦ τελώνου· Ὁ θεός, ἱλάσθητί μοι τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ. Ἅγιος Βασίλειος ὁ Μέγας, Λόγος εἰς τὸ Πρόσεχε σεαυτῷ Source: Migne PG 31 209

Since it is easier for any one of us to pry into another's affairs rather than to consider ourselves, that this not happen among us, do not, I say, inquire into the vices of another, do not allow your thoughts leisure to go poking about in the wrongs of another, but look to yourself, that is, turn your eyes to look into your own soul. Many, according to the word of the Lord, see the speck in their brother's eye and do not see the beam in their own. 1 Do not cease, then, to consider yourself, if according to the commandment you direct your life, and do not turn to those things which are outside you lest you find yourself in a state of reprehension, like that proud and boastful Pharisee, who standing forth justified himself and had contempt for the publican. 2 Truly do not cease to examine yourself, lest you wander from those things which you should lay to heart, lest a racing tongue hurry before the the mind, lest in the works of your hand there be what is unwanted. Because if you find in your life much fault, as indeed every man may discover, then you may say with the publican, 'O Lord, be propitious to me, a sinner.'  Saint Basil of Caesarea, from the Sermon on 'Look To Yourself' 1 Mt 7.3 2 Lk 18.11